Digital Logos Edition
The prophetic books of Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah are brief but powerful. They comfort us with the assurance that, when nothing in this life makes sense, God is still in control. They toughen our faith in the face of the world’s ugly realities. And they reveal the complexities of humans in relation to God. Jonah ran from his divine commission. Habakkuk questioned God concerning his ways. Repenting under Jonah’s message, the city of Nineveh ultimately backslid and reaped the doom prophesied by Nahum. And Zephaniah’s remnant depicts a faith that remains faithful. We needn’t look too hard to find our own world and concerns mirrored in these books.
Exploring the links between the Bible and our own times, James Bruckner shares perspectives on four of the Minor Prophets that reveal their enduring relevance for our twenty-first century lives.
“The wonder of the sign is that a place that ought to have been a place of death became a place of deliverance and life.” (Pages 83–84)
“The purpose of Jonah is to make us obedient through the fear of Yahweh.” (Page 20)
“The reasons for Jonah’s running are not explained until 4:2 and cannot be understood without historical background. Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria, was Israel’s worst enemy and the bane of the ancient world. They were a powerful and well-developed civilization, known for their brutal and grisly treatment of their enemies. Jonah’s response to Yahweh’s directive can be understood as fear, rebellion, or moral opposition to Yahweh’s mercy (as Jonah alludes to in 4:2). Jonah is not interested in participating in the redemption of this particular enemy.” (Page 42)
“‘If you feel compassionate about the destruction of a vine you did not create, shouldn’t I be concerned about the destruction of people and animals I did create?’” (Page 116)
“As long as we insist that Jonah is an example of a ‘bad’ prophet, we will never understand why Jesus used him as a twofold ‘good’ example.” (Page 23)
This is the pulpit commentary for the twenty-first century.
—George K. Brushaber, president, Bethel College and Seminary
The NIV Application Commentary meets the urgent need for an exhaustive and authoritative commentary based on the New International Version. This series will soon be found in libraries and studies throughout the evangelical community.
—James Kennedy, senior minister, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church
It is encouraging to find a commentary that is not only biblically trustworthy but also contemporary in its application. The NIV Application Commentary will prove to be a helpful tool in the pastor’s sermon preparation. I use it and recommend it.
—Charles F. Stanley, pastor, First Baptist Church of Atlanta
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